Empathy, your competitive advantage and new best friend.
Develop empathy and you have the ability to connect with anyone – creating instant rapport, trust and understanding.
Why is empathy so important?
Coming soon…
Are you Socially Intelligent?![mirror neurons]()
I’ve been reading a book called Social Intelligence by the author of Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman. It accounts for some of the effects we all experience as we tune in to other people such as empathic resonance and the concept of japanese amae; “feeling felt”.
Why is this important?
According to Goleman, our level of social intelligence determines our success not just as Leaders, but in all our relationships and social interactions – and the sense of fulfillment we derive from them.
In it he talks about the ‘high road’ of the thinking mind and the ‘low road’ of the emotional, quick to react side of us that makes snap (and often correct) decisions about people and situations.
He says “the low road, with its ultrarapid mirror neuron links, operates as a sort of sixth sense, prompting us to feel with another person, even though we may be only vaguely aware of our attunement.”
Does this account for our ability to enter a room and immediately sense the atmosphere? Are our “spindle cells responsible for the secret of the speed of social intuition?”
Is our ability to approach someone and know that they are sad, even when they it hide behind a mask, something that can be honed, or does realising we do it simply make the process conscious when we need it to be?
Are these “always-on” neural pathways responsible for our ability to read people and situations with such incredible accuracy? And is it simply a survival instinct, built into us from the very beginning?
One of the ways I help clients tune in better to other people is by listening with a completely blank mind. This makes you completely receptive to how your body is responding.
This takes you out of your head and means you get the true meaning of the message loud and clear, not distorted by your emotions, thoughts, judgements and assumptions.
It seems to me that biology and self-awareness are working together on this, creating a deeper connection, and a more complete form of communication.
If you’re interested in learning how to become a more charismatic and inspirational leader, get better at relationships and communicate more powerfully, contact me.
I’d love to hear your comments, below.
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Why ‘visionary’? Because the Leaders I work with have a strong vision which they inch towards every day.
A vision will wring you out and re-shape you, making you doubt everything and nothing, sacrificing valuable time and relationships, taking detours and challenging you to make a stand for what can seem impossible.
A vision will inspire you.
On my 7th birthday I had a vision of what my life would be like. I was silent and alone in our playroom, minutes before everyone was due to arrive for my party.
I remember staring at the board with pin the tail on the donkey and a large bubble of activity – about the size of a grapefruit, looking like a snowdome – came into my vision.
As I peered into it I saw all the activity that would be my life, my emotions swirling around for a few seconds as several strong images imprinted themselves in my mind, then it was gone.
About 16 years ago, I had a vision that I have been working to ever since. It contains some familiar strands from when I was 7.
It guides my meetings, my communication, my relationships and gives me a sense of value and purpose.
This is what it looked like then although since I first saw it, my interpretation of it’s meaning has expanded.
Those lights are people by the way, and they are how I see the world.
The light is the essence of you, and my work consists of dismantling anything that might keep you from seeing that in yourself and others.
My goal is to do this in a simple, clear and accessible way. Which makes it easier for visionaries like you to lead and make the impact that you know you’re here to do.
In this way, both you and your Organisation stay true to your essence whilst growing into a stronger, more assured version of yourself.
But for that to happen, you must start with a vision.
If you have one, and would like help implementing it, contact me.
If you don’t, use my free audio to quieten your mind just like I did, and dream big. Just subscribe to my blog in the footer, below.